S. Korea, US resume defense cost
时间:2024-09-23 09:24:06 来源:玉林新闻
South Korea and the United States have opened a new round of defense cost-sharing talks in Los Angeles, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, as Korean workers in the US Forces Korea (USFK) face unpaid leave absent a deal to bankroll their wages.
Seoul's top negotiator Jeong Eun-bo and his US counterpart, James DeHart, began the two-day negotiation session on Tuesday, following a two-month hiatus that underscored the deadlock over how much Seoul should pay for stationing the 28,500-strong USFK.
The seventh round of the talks for the cost-sharing deal, called the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), came as some 9,000 Korean employees in the USFK have faced furloughs that would begin on April 1 unless a new deal is struck.
Last year's SMA, which called for Seoul to pay around $870 million to cover part of the Korean workers' wages and offer other forms of support for American troops here, expired in December.
"The (first day of the) SMA negotiation session ended on Tuesday, local time, after the negotiators met in the morning and in the afternoon," the ministry said in a text message sent to reporters.
Seoul's negotiation team entered the new round of talks with an eye to reconciling differences on the total amount of Korea's payments for the USFK. But if the gaps are hard to bridge, it hopes to first address the Korean workers' wage issue.
In earlier SMA talks, Seoul proposed that the two sides first settle the wage issue under a separate arrangement using the budget that Seoul has already earmarked for its financial contributions to the USFK this year.
But a US State Department official opposed the idea of holding a separate negotiation on the wage issue, the Voice of America (VOA) has reported.
"The recent proposal by the ROK to launch a separate negotiation based solely on labor cost sharing would greatly detract from expeditiously concluding a mutually acceptable and comprehensive SMA that addresses all facets of the agreement," the official at the office of the department's spokesperson was quoted by the VOA as saying in an email message on Monday.
ROK stands for South Korea's official name, Republic of Korea.
"Furloughs may be avoided if the United States and the ROK reach agreement on a more equitable SMA that supports President Trump's view in which allies and partners should cover their fair share of the costs," the official added.
Since last September, the two countries have held six rounds of SMA talks, including the last in Washington in January. But they failed to bridge differences over how much Seoul should shoulder this year and beyond and what should be covered by the SMA.
The US has revised downward its initial demand for a fivefold increase of Seoul's financial contribution to the USFK to some $5 billion. But it is known to currently call for about $4 billion, with Seoul insisting on an increase of about 10 percent. (Yonhap)
-
Yoon, US Senate's armed service committee chief discuss alliance, N.K. threatsDefense chief calls for tightened discipline after North Korean boat's border crossingSnap CEO Evan Spiegel responds to critics of Snapchat's redesignThe future president is blocking people on Twitter like there's no tomorrowWhat to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and moreAmbassador says Britain has strong interest in peninsula securityCost Per Frame: Best Value Graphics Cards Right NowPyongyang to deliver condolence message, flowers for late first lady's funeralArshad Nadeem receives HilalDjokovic, Nadal, Alcaraz in same half of French Open draw
相关内容
- ·Norris stuns Verstappen at Dutch GP
- ·Milan on brink of historic title
- ·惠州:2023年农林牧渔业总产值增长6.5%
- ·The future president is blocking people on Twitter like there's no tomorrow
- ·尝“鲜”盛宴,等你来探!2024年清远西牛麻竹笋尝鲜季即将启幕
- ·Steady stream of people in early voting
- ·[EXCLUSIVE] Racism prevalent in migrant education
- ·芦山县发现较完整清代末期四合院民居
- ·NASA's new plan keeps Starliner astronauts in space until 2025
- ·Lyon win Women's Champions League
- ·'Jane the Virgin' creator on crafting the perfect TV rom
- ·Please enjoy this video of Jeremy Clarkson attempting the 'Shoot' dance
- ·World's first green ammonia plant is now open for business
- ·If Neil deGrasse Tyson ever puts out an album, the internet has cover art suggestions
- ·Pair arrested for trying to spend the night in Ikea
- ·第三次全国文物普查雅安发现众多“宝贝”
最新内容
- ·采购商+48,英德红茶在泉城济南蹭蹭涨粉
- ·Twitter drops the transparency ball on Russian bot abuse
- ·阳江年味“腊”出来!一文get舌尖上的漠阳味道
- ·John Cleese's Twitter tribute to Andrew Sachs will make you cry
- ·Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky 2024 livestream: Watch live WNBA
- ·Letter to Kim Jong
- ·Zverev says Nadal plays '30% better' at Roland Garros
- ·芦山县发现较完整清代末期四合院民居
- ·When will Trump and Harris debate? The presidential campaigns snipe over ABC News’ rules.
- ·West Hollywood City Council votes to remove Trump's Walk of Fame star
推荐内容
热点内容
- ·特写|在农事定向大赛遇见和美乡村
- ·Missile engine test shows N.K. ICBMs can deliver nuclear warhead to U.S. east coast: 38 North
- ·司机醉酒驾车乘客或将一并受罚
- ·FlipSid3 Tactics tears through losers bracket to win 'Rocket League' Championship Series
- ·'Metaphor: ReFantazio' hands
- ·Your Starbucks cake could have more sugar than 5 Krispy Kremes
- ·A new app will grow the White House on your dollar bill
- ·Korean teens fight for rights to birth control, sex life
- ·[Exclusive] Samsung unsure of Suga's future as brand ambassador: source
- ·Lyon win Women's Champions League